Chromebooks Get Retail Shelf-Space, Lots of It at Robert Pogson

I have long seen retail shelf-space as the last frontier for GNU/Linux desktop OS. There have been a few flurries but now Google and others are seriously promoting */Linux on the desktop/notebook/whatever. Google is producing tablets with its brand by the millions. It’s OEM partners are doing even more. Now the latest version of the Chromebook will have retail shelf-space at Best Buy (US) and Dixons (UK). It can work off-line folks, making it a general-purpose PC, almost.

“Chrome OS, and Chromebooks, are transforming from Linux-based, thin-client systems to full competitors with Windows systems. Would that be enough to get people to switch if their main choice was their pick of Windows 7 PCs? Probably not. But, when your choice will be Windows 8 systems, well, like Vista before it showed, customers may prove to not be that loyal to Microsoft after all.”

See The Linux desktop, thanks to Chromebooks, goes retail.

My Mission

My observations and opinions about IT are based on 40 years of use in science and technology and lately, in education. I like IT that is fast, cost-effective and reliable. I do not care whether my solution is the same as yours. I like to think for myself.

My first use of GNU/Linux in 2001 was so remarkably better than what I had been using, I feel it is important work to share GNU/Linux with the world. I have been blessed by working in schools where students and school systems have benefited by good, modular software easily installed in most systems.

I have shown GNU/Linux to thousands of students and hundreds of teachers over the years and will continue in some way doing that until I die in spite of the opposition.

7 Responses to “Chromebooks Get Retail Shelf-Space, Lots of It”

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1 Phenom Jun 29th, 2012 at 4:16 am

I really feel sorry for the poor soul that would try to use Google Docs as a replacement for MS Office, or even LibreOffice. Writing text in Google Docs is enough to send anyone screaming back to Windows or Mac.
2 kozmcrae Jun 29th, 2012 at 12:50 pm

Phenom wrote:

“Writing text in Google Docs is enough to send anyone screaming back to Windows or Mac.”

People have been screaming at Microsoft for over a decade. They are getting tired of screaming. They have choices now. Migrating from one platform to another is often trading one set of problems for another. The Chromebook wouldn’t even exist if there wasn’t a pent-up demand for something other than Microsoft.

When are you going to admit, Phenom, that Microsoft’s preeminence on the desktop and office application market is disintegrating at an accelerating rate. It’s not just in the traditional market but in the mobile market where Microsoft is getting hammered.

It’s Moore’s Law in fact that is doing a strip tease on the hardware revealing Microsoft’s outrageous license fees. That’s only going to get worse. So what’s a Software company thoroughly entrenched in 20th Century business practices going to do faced with the realities of the 21st Century? Lose, that’s what.
3 Phenom Jun 30th, 2012 at 9:35 am

People have been screaming at Microsoft for over a decade.
Oh, really, Mr. McRae? Then how come MS Office version 2010 is one of the best selling versions of Office?

Answer: people speak their mind, and MS listens and complies with the wishes.
4 kozmcrae Jun 30th, 2012 at 10:02 am

Phenome wrote:

“Answer: people speak their mind, and MS listens and complies with the wishes.”

That is the oldest line of Microsoft Bull She It there is. No Phenom, people are not demanding Microsoft Office. It’s the last vestige of Microsoft’s monopoly that is responsible for the “popularity” of Office. Most of that popularity can safely be replace with Libre Office and that is happening right now. But it’s only just started so you won’t see any serious deterioration of Office’s dominance for some time to come. Of course you know this so you will continue to spew that bull she it when ever you think you can get away with it. You didn’t get away with it this time Phenom.
5 Phenom Jul 2nd, 2012 at 6:10 am

But it’s only just started so you won’t see any serious deterioration of Office’s dominance for some time to come

Nice prediction, Mr. McRae. Would you bet on it?
6 oldman Jul 5th, 2012 at 5:47 am

“The Chromebook wouldn’t even exist if there wasn’t a pent-up demand for something other than Microsoft.”

It seems more likely that the chromebook exists because of googles hubris, not because of pent up demand. Nobody is clamoring to purchase an expensive piece of hardware that can only connect to one vendors service.

“Most of that popularity can safely be replace with Libre Office and that is happening right now. But it’s only just started so you won’t see any serious deterioration of Office’s dominance for some time to come. ”

You’re right Mr. K, lets come back in 10+ years and see where L—-Office is. I for one will not be surprised if it is essentially where it is now.
7 Robert Pogson Jul 5th, 2012 at 6:15 am

oldman wrote, “Nobody is clamoring to purchase an expensive piece of hardware that can only connect to one vendors service.”

I thought that’s the clamor that oldman and others were making here for years now…